Exploring Your Purpose for
Attending College
The College Experience
Why college is important to our society
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Higher standard of living
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Level playing field for everyone
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Preparation for leadership roles
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Preparation for graduate or professional school
Why college is important for you
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Developing valuable skills, such as critical thinking
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Social networking
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Experiences that help you achieve your purpose
Your Turn
So far, is life at your college or university
what you expected or hoped for? Why or
why not?
Your Turn
When you hear the phrase “American
dream,” what do you think of? How would
you describe to someone else the meaning
of these words?
Your Turn
How would you describe your reasons for
coming to college at this time in your life?
Do you think your reasons will change
during your college career? Why or why
not?
Setting Goals for Your College
Experience and Beyond
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Importance of establishing goals
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SMART
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Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, anchored
to a Time period
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Is the goal realistic?
Outcomes of College
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Accumulate knowledge
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Make better decisions
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Grow through interacting with people different from
yourself
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Gain self-esteem and self-confidence
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Become more future-oriented
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Tend to your personal wellness
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Earn more money than non-college graduates
Earning Potential
Making the Transition
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Distinct differences between high school and college
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Challenges and opportunities for adult and returning
students
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Dealing with less freedom
First-year motivation and commitment
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Dealing with newfound freedom
High School vs. College:
What’s the difference?
High School
College
You had known many of your classmates for
years
More diverse classmates in terms of race, age,
religion, political opinions, and life experiences
Your parents and teachers made sure you were
in school every day
Attendance may be up to you, and managing your
time may be difficult at first
Tests and quizzes were given regularly to check
your understanding of the material
College instructors give fewer tests
Parents and teachers gave a lot of guidance
Nobody treats you like a kid anymore
Reading assignments were generally short
You have to do much more reading now
Good grades were often easy to get, if you paid
attention in class
Good grades are hard to get and require a lot of
study
Classes were small with a lot of instructorstudent interaction
Classes are larger, more complex, and more
impersonal
Your Turn
In what ways are you already finding that
college is different from high school? Did
you anticipate these differences? Why or
why not?
Your Turn
As an adult or returning student, what
challenges in college have you already
faced? To whom can you turn for help?
How might you avoid such challenges in
the future?
Your Turn
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the
highest, rate your own level of motivation
for college. What do you think accounts
for your current motivation level? If you
don’t think you are motivated, what
strategies can you think of that would help
motivate you?
What Is Your Purpose in College?
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“I belong here” vs. “What am I doing here?”
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The clearer the sense of purpose, the easier it is to
stay motivated
Building a clearer sense of purpose
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Look to students with similar career interests
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Visit the career center
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Talk to advisers, professors, and campus chaplains
Tech Tip: Expand Your Skills
Basic software programs
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Microsoft Word
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Microsoft Excel
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Spreadsheet application for creating charts and lists for analyzing data
Microsoft PowerPoint
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Creates polished documents used for most written assignments
Presentation software for creating digital slideshows
Essential skills for each